AN: This is the first time I've ever written anything for the Elder Scroll series, which I've loved since Oblivion came out. I've been playing both Oblivion and Skyrim a lot lately, and was inspired to write this. I want to see what kind of feedback I get on this, which will decide if I will keep writing for this story or not.
P.S. I took used the name of the main character as my own Dragonborn and Hero of Kvatch, and made the other names mentioned in this chapter using the Elder Scrolls wiki page on Breton names. It was very useful in helping with the names, since I'm awful at creating names!
Disclaimer: The Elder Scroll series are not my own, and is owned by Bethesda. I am just a bored writer, who was inspired by the awesome games they create!
Chapter 1. The Great Escape
It was a beautiful day in High Rock, specifically in Tehanna. The sun was shining, and there was a nice warm breeze coming off of the ocean. The entire town was in motion preparing for the marriage of two influential families' heirs. It would be the wedding of the century. Everyone was in high spirits, except for the bride. A young Breton woman, Ryo of the Blackthorn family, with cool blue eyes sat in her room, staring at herself in a mirror, unblinking. She didn't think she could do it. Her parents, snotty nobles, were forcing her into an unwanted marriage. The marriage would give her family ties with the only other noble family of the city. The man selected for her (if you could even call him one) was just as up his own ass as her parents. She began brushing her hair with an overly ornate comb, while pondering how to get herself out of this mess.
What can I do? Nothing I do will change my father's mind. Unless... No. I can't do that to them, regardless of how much I want to she thought to herself
During her inner debate, the woman that had acted as nursemaid to the young woman, and then friend and confidant as the girl grew older, stood In the doorway, watching her. Her graying hair and warm chocolate eyes, watched her with sadness. She knew how much the girl loathed the idea of an arranged marriage, especially to such a pig. Ysona had come to love the girl as her own daughter, and couldn't bear to see her in such a hard place. Noticing that Ryo still hadn't noticed her, she cleared her throat. Ryo snatched her head up and smiled when she saw who was with her.
"Hello Ysona. How are you today?" she said with a small quiver to her voice.
Ysona, noticing the sadness in Ryo's voice, immediately said "I'm fine, but you're not."
"I have to be fine. What is left for me to do? I've been locked into this farce of a marriage, with no escape. Short of running away from home, there is no way out!" she yelled, releasing all of the pent up emotions of hopelessness and despair.
"Listen to yourself," Ysona said quietly, "This is not you. I've never heard words of such hopelessness pass from your lips. You are a strong girl; do NOT let this be your downfall. Do what makes you happy, even if that means running away from home." said the old woman, with conviction.
"Shhh! Don't let a guard hear you say that! Close the door, and come sit down." she said, while rising from her vanity and leading the older woman to a small sitting area. "I want to run away from it all, but where would I go? I would be hunted down like an animal until they found me again!" she said with a hint of whining in her voice.
"Stop whining, you're too old for that." Ysona said with force. This brought a small frown onto the twenty year old's face.
Ysona continued, ignoring the look, "Yes, they would hunt you down. As long as you're in High Rock." the woman said, with a grin coming onto her face.
The younger woman's face paled. "I don't know about leaving High Rock. Cyrodiil would be easiest to flee to, but they would surely look for me there."
"Then it is settled. Skyrim is where you shall go." the older woman said with confidence.
Ryo couldn't contain her loud laughter. She soon stopped when she saw the serious look on her nursemaid's face. "I'm sorry, but are you serious?" she exclaimed, "I wouldn't survive a day there!"
The old woman, already anticipating this reaction, pulled a worn piece of parchment from her pocket and handed it to the girl. She unfolded it and looked up at the old woman.
"A map? Where did you get a map of Skyrim? How long have you been planning on telling me to go there?" asked the young woman.
"The announcement of your marriage was the last straw. When I heard it, I knew I had to get you away from here. You are such a bright girl, and I couldn't bear to see your talents go to waste." she continued, "I've circled the settlement of Solitude for you. Solitude is only an hour or two from here. You need to head east once you leave Tehanna." the woman informed her with a sad look in her eyes.
Ryo, with tears forming in her eyes, leaped across the couch they were seated on, and hugged Ysona.
"I don't know what I'd do without you Ysona. You're the mother I never had." the tears made Ryo's voice thick. "I can't believe I'm about to do this." she muttered with fear, and a hint of excitement.
Releasing the girl, Ysona stood up and announced that Ryo needed to pack some things for her journey. Saying that she would be back in a few minutes, Ysona left Ryo to her thoughts.
I can't believe I'm doing this thought Ryo. Maybe I can finally learn about the magic that runs through my veins she thought with excitement. The woman walked over to a dresser in her room that she kept a leather bag in. Suddenly, she was glad she hid the unsightly, but practical, bag from her mother. If something wasn't beautiful or fashionable, it was garbage, and was handled accordingly.
She began to fill the bag with coin purses, potions, a few outfits, and spell scrolls. She then proceeded to her jewelry box and pulled out an enchanted amulet that would fortify her magicka pools. She bought the thing on a whim one day in the market, just because it was a beautiful trinket. She didn't even realize it was enchanted until after she had bought it. The only thing left to find would be a weapon, preferably a bow and some arrows. When she closed the jewelry box, Ysona entered the room and told Ryo that she had bribed one of the guards to have a horse ready at midnight. Ryo hugged the woman, and thanked her for all that she had done for her.
When Ysona left, Ryo began to think about what she was going to do for a job when she arrived in Skyrim. She knew that she wouldn't be able to survive forever off of the money that she brought with her. Maybe I'll become an armorer, just to spite Mother she thought with a grin.
Belladyvyra Blackthorn awoke to the scream of a servant. She started and ran into the hallway, only to be met with a frantic maid. When she finally got the woman to calm down enough to ask what was wrong, all the maid could do was point to Ryo's bedroom. She opened the door, and instead of being met with the sight of her sleeping daughter, she saw a bed made up with a note lying on the pillow. The Blackthorn matriarch promptly fainted. Her daughter ran away the night before her wedding!
AN: That's it for Chap. 1! Please be sure to review, even if it is to tell me you hated it. At least tell me why, so I can fix/work on it!